Backlash after Kelantan state government orders restaurants and food stalls closed for Ramadan evening hours

Restaurant and food stall operators in the northeastern state of Kelantan have met a new Ramadan directive shuttering their businesses between 8:30pm and 10pm every night during Ramadan with tepid enthusiasm, and have asked for a review in policy.

National news agency Bernama went to the state capital Kota Baru last night to speak with business owners, who asked to remain anonymous as they expressed displeasure with the initiative that was put into immediate effect two days ago.

“Workers and restaurants owners have a bigger responsibility to provide family needs, and I think the instruction is too drastic,” she explained.

Many have asked why independent restaurants and stalls have been affected, and not supermarkets and fast food outlets.

Individuals who rely on Ramadan traffic to sell their food stuffs are increasingly worried over their livelihood, with one single mother saying that she would now have to find another source of income so as to provide enough for her family to celebrate the Hari Raya holiday.

Without the money coming in from the various colek (a typical northern snack dish of a gravy served with fruit, chicken, keropok or seafood) she sells during the fasting month, she will be unable to buy clothes and food for her family for the festivities.

Many were taken by surprise when notice of the initiative began to circulate, straight from the Kelantan State Secretary Office, stipulating the order was to begin immediately, and was being done to honor Ramadan, and attract Muslims to go perform Tarawih in mosques and prayer rooms.